Latching means for hatch covers



Dec. 13, 1966 E. H. ISAKSSON 3,291,514

LATCHING MEANS FOR HATCH COVERS Filed Nov. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

INVENTOR. Erik HoLjQr-ISQ/(SSon BY Wm M, 2 9a A k? 1 Dec. 13, 1966 E. H. ISAKSSON LATCHING MEANS FOR HATCH COVERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1964 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. Er// Helge! Isaksson PM 4% 29 PM? United States Patent 3,291,514 LATCHING MEANS FOR HATCH COVERS Erik Holger Isaksson, Goteborg, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Gotaverken, Goteborg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,336 Claims priority, application Sweden, Dec. 3, 1963,

13,359/ 63 Claims. (Cl. 292-2565) In order to obtain a water-tight closure at hatch covers latching mechanisms of different kinds are utilized. These mechanisms must be able to forcibly press the cover against the coaming in such a manner that the packing material is jammed tight. With large covers several points of closure are necessary and this mans that the work required for the latching operation will be tedious. Various means to interconnect several latching mechanisms have been proposed but the separate fittings have often been designed in such a manner that certain manual adjustments have been necessary before the actual operation can take place.

One of the objects of the invention is to obtain a mechanism in which the fittings remain in a rest position from which they by means of a common manoeuvring member may automatically be brought into action and bring about an eflicient locking of the cover.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a mechanism composed of simple elements, which are easy to assemble and sturdy and reliable in use.

A further object of the invention is to obtain latching means operated by a common manoeuvring member in which a uniform pressure is exerted at the various fittings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a detail view of part of the coaming with the cover in closed position.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross section through cover and coaming also with the cover in closed position.

FIGURE 3 shows a section along line IIIIII in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 shows the same detail with the fitting in rest position.

On the drawings the coaming is denoted by 1 and the sections resting thereupon by 2. To force the covers against the coaming a number of fittings are provided which in FIGURE 1 schematically are denoted by legend 3. A plurality of such fittings, for instance all fittings arranged on the same side of the cover, are arranged to be actuated by a rod 4 running along the coaming. This rod may be pushed in its longitudinal direction by means of a hydraulic apparatus 5. The figure shows how this hydraulic apparatus is located in the vicinity of the joint between two sections. The fittings to both sides of the apparatus are turned in opposite directions in such a manner that they all will perform a closing movement during a pulling action of the rod. Various types of manoeuvring mechanism for the operating of the rod may be utilized and with very long covers it might be advantageous to subdivide the operation in such a manner that groups of fittings along one side of the coaming may be operated independently of each other.

The coaming contains a horizontal strengthening flange 6, which is provided with a ledge 7 for co-operation with a packing arranged in the cover sections. The flange also carries the separate fittings 3. In juxtaposition to each fitting a forked locking member or keeper 8 is arranged on the cover section. The flange 6 is provided with an oblong opening 9 at the location of each fitting through which opening a lever 10 is passing. This oblong, narrow opening guides the lever in a favourable manner. The lever is designed as a straight rod, which "ice at its upper part is provided with an enlargement or knob 15 adapted to co-operate with the forked locking member 8. The upper portion of the first lever 10 may alternatively be shaped as a loop, which co-operates with a single peg in the locking means.

As will be evident from FIGURE 3 the lever 10 is so long that in acting position, that is when the cover is closed, reaches below the longitudinal pulling rod 4. Close by the oblong opening 9 in the strengthening flange 6 of the coaming a bracket 11 consisting of two ears is arranged. To this bracket a double link 12 is articulated. This double link is also articulatedly fixed to the pulling rod 4 by means of two pivots 13, which simultaneously connect a U-shaped link or extension 14, which is fixed to the lever 10. Between this lever and the link 14 an elastic packing 16 is arranged, which makes it possible to exert a uniform pressure at all fittings. The rod is at the different fittings shaped like a frame, in such a manner that two parallel spaced-apart bars will enclose each fitting, protects them and also exerts an even pulling action at the second lever during the closure movement.

When the rod 4 is pushed to the left from the position shown in FIGURE 3 the link 12 will swing about the pivots in the bracket 11. The rod will then be lifted towards the flange 6 and will simultaneously swing the lever 10 together with link 14 around pivots 13. The knob of lever 10 will then first be lifted from hook 8, and thereafter the whole fitting will be moved to a rest position, where the knob is close by flange 6. Thereafter it is possible to move the cover unrestrictedly.

When the sections are to be latched down the rod is moved to the right from the position shown in FIGURE 4, and in the same manner as above described the link 12 will then swing about its connection to bracket 11. The rod 4 will then move downwards from flange 6 and lever 10 will be brought into a vertical position, where it engages the locking member. When the rod has been brought as far to the right as corresponds to the position shown in FIGURE 3 a pressing down of the cover is obtained.

What I claim is:

1. In a latching device for a hatch cover comprising a coaming surrounding a hatch opening, a cover adapted to rest on said coaming when in closed position, an outwardly directed horizontal flange at at least two sides of the coaming and fittings mounted on the coaming adapted for cooperation with keeper means on the edges of the cover,

a manoeuvring rod running along the coaming below each flange and arranged to actuate several fittings simultaneously,

a number of oblong openings having their longitudinal extension parallel to said rod in each of said horizontal flanges,

a lever in each fitting extending through each of said oblong openings, said lever having an enlargement at its upper end for co-operation with the keeper means and being of suflicient length to reach below the manoeuvring rod when in acting position,

an extension means and a pivot articulatedly connecting said lever to said rod,

a bracket fixed to the flange above the rod,

and a link swingab-ly connected to said bracket and to said rod in such a manner that a horizontal movement of the rod will bring about also a vertical displacement thereof.

2. A latching device according to claim 1, in which the lever is shaped as a straight rod having a knob at its upper end and in which the keeper means is designed as forked members.

3. A latching device according to claim 1, in which a common pivot is arranged to connect the extension means of the lever as well as the lower end of the link to the rod.

4. In a latching device for a hatch cover comprising a coaming surrounding a hatch opening, a cover adapted to rest on said coaming when in closed position, an outwardly directed horizontal flange at at least two sides of the coaming and fittings mounted on the coaming adapted for co-operation with keeper means on the edges of the cover,

a manoeuvring rod at least partly consisting of parallel spaced-apart bar-s running along the coaming below each flange and arranged to actuate several fittings simultaneously,

a number of oblong openings having their longitudinal extension parallel to said rod in each of said horizontal flanges,

a lever in each fitting mounted between said bars and extending through each of said oblong openings, said lever having an enlargement at its upper end for cooperation with the keeper means and being of sufficient length to reach below the manoeuvring rod when in acting position,

a U-shaped extension means at the lower end of said lever and pivots articulatedly connecting said link to the parallel bars of said rod,

a bracket fixed to the flange on each side of said longitudinal opening above the rod,

and links swingably connecting said brackets and each shank of said U-shaped extension means in such a manner that a horizontal movement of said rod will bring about also a vertical displacement thereof.

5. A latching device according to claim 4, in which an elastic member is arranged between the U-shaped exten- 10 sion means and the lower part of the lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

25 RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner. 

1. IN A LATCHING DEVICE FOR A HATCH COVER COMPRISING A COAMING SURROUNDING A HATCH OPENING, A COVER ADAPTED TO REST ON SAID COAMING WHEN IN CLOSED POSITION, AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED HORIZONTAL FLANGE AT AT LEAST TWO SIDES OF THE COAMING AND FITTINGS MOUNTED ON THE COAMING ADAPTED FOR COOPERATING WITH KEEPER MEANS ON THE EDGES OF THE COVER, A MANOEUVRING ROD RUNNING ALONG THE COAMING BELOW EACH FLANGE AND ARRANGED TO ACTUATE SEVERAL FITTINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY, A NUMBER OF OBLONG OPENINGS HAVING THEIR LONGITUDINAL EXTENSION PARALLEL TO SAID ROD IN EACH OF SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGES, A LEVER IN EACH FITTING EXTENDING THROUGH EACH OF SAID OBLONG OPENINGS, SAID LEVER HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT AT ITS UPPER END FOR CO-OPERATION WITH THE KEEPER MEANS AND BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO REACH BELOW THE MANOEUVRING ROD WHEN IN ACTING POSITION, AN EXTENSION MEANS AND A PIVOT ARTICULATEDLY CONNECTING SAID LEVER TO SAID ROD, A BRACKET FIXED TO THE FLANGES ABOVE THE ROD, AND A LINK SWINGABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BRACKET AND TO SAID ROD IN SUCH A MANNER THAT A HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF THE ROD WILL BRING ABOUT ALSO A VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT THEREOF. 